Commissioner Butuyan* speaks on taming oligopolies, competition law

19 July 2017

News Philippines

As part of the Philippine Competition Commission’s (PCC) continuing effort to raise awareness on competition policy and law, PCC Commissioner El Cid R. Butuyan delivered a lecture on Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act of 2015 at the Silliman University College of Law in Dumaguete City last July 19, 2017.

Butuyan shared with the audience, composed of law students and recent bar passers, the historical context of competition in the country and discussed the importance of preserving a competitive playing field for market players. He noted that the oligopolistic structure in the economy, as demonstrated by the Philippine experience, is paralleled by political dominance.

The PCC commissioner, who also sits as Co-Chair of the ABA (American Bar Association) InternationalCommittee-Criminal Justice Section, also addressed recent attacks against the PCC in the media, noting that these are may well be the effect of PCC’s vigorous efforts to assert its mandate.

“Rightfully so, because the PCC poses as a disruptive force. It is well-positioned to influence firms that, for the longest time, have conducted their business without concern for their rivals or their consumers. The PCC brings forth a paradigm shift where the excesses and inefficiencies brought about by anti-competitive conduct will be kept in check,” he explained.

“As we slowly learn to tame the oligopolies that have long ruled the Philippine economy, we hope that the economic landscape will gradually become more inclusive, participative, and equitable,” he added.

Butuyan served as the Head of Investigations and Litigation for the World Bank Integrity Vice-Presidency, where he conducted audits, fact-finding investigations, and litigation on cases relating to anticompetitive practices, corruption, collusion, cartel behavior, coercion, and fraud by multinational and local firms. He was a Faculty Member at Harvard Law School where he taught a course on Transnational Corruption.

*Atty. Butuyan has resigned from his position as PCC Commissioner on July 25, 2017.